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Feel her breath as the wind blows, hear her song as the dove sings , touch her sacred plants and feel her life giving energy. She is the predator and the prey, she is everything and nothing, she is the mundane and the heavenly body, she is the universal mother, sun and moon, good and evil. She is the sacred Oak tree and the ground in which it grows, she is all loving. Embrace her love and she will show herself to you. She will come to your dreams and remind you of her ancient stories. Worship her, call to her, pray to her. She is great Mother to us all. She is Goddess. )O(

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Thursday, December 30, 2010

This month at Love of the Goddess, we are having a giveaway for a beautiful Amethyst pendulum! Graciously donated by Cherie over at Green Owl Curiosities. Pendulums are a great tool for divination. Especially getting started in the New Year! I had the chance to speak with Cheri, here's what she had to say:

1. Tell us a little about your business.Green Owl Curiosities is an online shop run from my home. I manage to make it to a couple of shows a year, but having a full time job on top of running my business makes it difficult to get days off sometimes. I try to keep my Etsy shop as updated as possible with new products and listings. It remains a challenge, being the only person doing everything from choosing supplies, making products, taking pictures, listing items and promoting the wares!

2. How long have you been making jewelry and other pagan craftsI have been crafting since I was a very little girl! I started making pagan crafts and jewelry about 10 years ago, when I first got in to paganism. It's an ongoing process of learning new skills and making new things!

3. What is your favorite product that you make?Choosing a favorite product would be like choosing one's favorite child, or most beautiful sunset! Because I can't (and won't!) pick favorites, I end up making a vast array of wonderful treasures! Consider yourselves lucky that I don't have a house big enough to keep everything, and must sell things to make room for more wonders.

4. Can you explain the item your giving away?The give away item is a lovely amethyst crystal pendulum. Amethyst is a wonderful stone used for meditation and enhancing psychic skills. The pendulum is topped with a carved clear quartz bead. Clear quartz is wonderful for enhancing the energies of any other stones it is paired with, and helps provide one with "clear answers." These stones were paired with purpose to aid and further the user's divination skills.

Ok so the rules are as follows: To enter the giveaway, you must first go to Cheri's Shop, find an item that you like and come back here and comment on it. Please make sure and leave contact info in your post so that I can get in touch with you. The giveaway will last for one week, and at that time I will choose the winner using random.org. Good luck to everyone who enters! Thank you to Cherie for donating her beautiful pendulum! Have fun playing!

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

The Winter Solstice is a time to celebrate the rebirth of the sun. Since the Summer Solstice, the days have been getting shorter and the nights longer. Now at Yule, the shortest day of the year, the opposite is true, where the days are now growing longer, and the nights shorter. This is the time of year, when the Goddess is pregnant with new life. Full and ready to give birth to the sun once again. Ancient peoples would hold great bonfires to honor the returning Sun. They would make Yule logs and carve their wishes into them for the New Year. Then would then throw them into the fire. Women would decorate their homes with evergreens, holly and mistletoe.

The Goddesses we honor at Yule are Freya and Isis. Freya is the Norse Goddess of beauty and love. In the Nordic tradition, Yule was referred to "Mother Night", for this is when Freya gave birth to her son Baldur, the Sun God. Many women would invoke Freya for her blessing while they were in labor. It is said that they would also burn a white candle to insure a safe delivery.

We also honor Isis for she too gave birth to her son Horus at the Winter Solstice, and his symbol was a sun disk. Isis is the Egyptian Mother Goddess of the universe. She is all loving and all knowing. The Ancient Egyptians would celebrate her on the Winter Solstice with a great feast.

There are a few magical things you can do at Yule. Get a fire going in a fire pit or another safe place to hold a fire. If you have made a Yule log, carve some of your wishes in it for the new year, visualize, then throw it into the fire. Visualizing your desires coming true as the log burns. If you dont have a Yule log, you can use some bay leaves, write on them your wishes and throw them into the fire.

On our altar for Yule, have a Yule log with three candles in it, colors of red, black and white to represent the goddess. Some evergreen, mistletoe and/or pine cones. A representation of the sun. A statue of the Goddesses Freya, Isis or any other goddess associated with Yule. Crystal colors of green or red.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Freya, daughter to Njordr and wife to Od, is the Norse Goddess of love, fertility and beauty. She was a very sacred Goddess to the Norse, right alongside Odin. She is depicted with long golden hair, blue eyes and wearing her famous necklace, the Brisingamen which was made with amber and rubies. She is the leader of the Valkyrie, which are the "choosers of the slain". These warrior women rode over battlefields on winged horses, taking the souls of noble warriors killed in battle. Freya is also said to have a magical falcon cloak, that allows the wearer to become a bird.

In the myth of her wedding to Od, it is said that not long after they are wed, Od disappeared, and all feared that he had died. Freya distraught over her loss, cried tears of gold but refused to accept that he was dead. She put on her magical cloak made of falcon feathers, rose into the sky, and searched all over for him. She did eventually find him, and saw that he had not died, but was banished and lost at sea. Although Freya was too late, as Od had already been turned into a hideous sea monster.

Freya was said to ride a chariot lead by cats. The cat was the most sacred animal to Freya. There is a myth involving Freya and Thor, with magical blue kittens and their cat mother. The mother cat was singing a lullaby that was putting Thor to sleep. Thor did not like this so he brought them to Freya. The mother cat got angry, turned into bird and flew away, so Freya decided to keep the blue kittens, and give them the honor to accompany her on her trips around the sky.

Freya helps us to get in touch with our emotions. She is said to be able to see the future and was a Goddess of magic and divination. She helps us to accomplish our goals, or do something we've been longing to do for sometime. She is also a warrior Goddess and can give us strength and courage. Call on Freya when you need to get in touch with your emotions, or if you have trouble doing nice things for yourself. Freya reminds us to love ourselves as well as others. Sometimes we are too busy taking care of and loving others, that we forget to love and take care of ourselves. She is there to remind us to never forget ourselves.

On your altar to Freya, have representations of cats, rose or sandalwood incense, stones of amber, jade or moonstone and candle colors of red, silver or black or a combination of all three.

Enjoy working with this beautiful Norse Goddess of love and fertility!

Sunday, December 5, 2010

The Yule log was used by the Celts in their Yule celebrations and rituals. It was usually made from an Oak tree, and decorated with evergreens, mistletoe and holly. Burning the Yule log comes to us from the tradition of the Yule bonfire which symbolized the power of the sun, which was thought to be reborn at the Winter Solstice.

There are many different crafts and magical rituals you can do with a Yule log. For your Yule ritual, take a log of oak or pine (really anything you can get easily) Cut out three holes on the top, you can cover it with some varnish or sealant so it wont dry out. Now put three chime candles in, colors of red, black and white to represent the Goddess. Now you can use this for your Yule ritual! You can also take your Yule log on the night of Yule, carve some symbols in it representing your hopes for the coming year, decorate it with some red ribbon and holly, and then burn it to release its powers.

Making and using a Yule log can become a great family tradition! Kids love making holiday crafts and it's a good way to introduce them to your Pagan faith. A great little craft to do with kids, is to make mini Yule log ornaments. You can give these away as gifts for Yule, or just simply hang them on your own tree.

Decorate each small log with the feathers, evergreens and seed beads. Tie a piece of red yarn or ribbon around the center and knot it in a bow. To hang as a tree ornament, add a small ornament hook or a bent paperclip.

These are very easy to make and fun too! Enjoy making your Yule log family traditions!

Friday, December 3, 2010

Thank you to everyone who participated in this giveaway! and the winner is....Tinnekke! Congratulations! Thanks again to Montserrat for donating her Yule candle. I hope everyone had fun playing. Enjoy your candle Tinnekke! Stay tuned for more giveaways in January.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

In honor of Yule this upcoming month, I decided to host a giveaway for a Yule related item. Thanks to Montserrat, at the Sacred Feminine, we have a beautiful handmade Yule candle to giveaway! As some of you may know, Montserrat has donated some of her great products to us before. We appreciate her generosity by donating one of her products again!

I had the chance to speak with her about her lovely candles, here's what she had to say:1. How did you get started making candles and for how long?I started making candles in 1996, just for me, when I could not find the right kind of candles in the stores. Then, I began to give them to friends and they all said that I should make them available to everybody. I took my first batch to a local store and they sold right away, and the rest is history :-)

2. Which candle that you make is your favorite?I don't have a particular candle that is my favorite, but I really like my latest one called"Expect Miracles".

3. Can you explain the item you are giving away?I am giving away a Yule candle. It is very pretty because it comes with a little holly charm tied to the candle with raffia. It's scented with pine, mulberry, juniper and cinnamon. Smells divine!

Ok so here are the rules: To enter the giveaway, go to Montserrat's Sacred Feminine site, find a few items that you like, and come back here to comment on them. For extra credit, you can start following Montserrat on twitter and post here that you are following her. The giveaway will go on for one week, then the winner will be announced. Please make sure to add contact info like your email in your entry! I will select the winner randomly with random.org. Good luck to everyone who enters and thank you again to Montserrat for donating her beautiful candle! Thanks for playing!

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Kali is the Hindu Goddess of time and change. Also known as "the black one" she is associated with eternal energy, time and death. She is depicted with four arms, her tongue sticking out and a garland of heads around her neck. In her most famous myth, Kali is shown fighting the demon Raktabija, but every time he is killed, he reproduces a clone of himself before there are many demons to kill. Kali kills everyone of them and licks up their blood in the process. In celebration of her victory, she then dances on the battlefield, stepping on the corpses of the slain. Her consort Shiva lies among the dead beneath her feet.

Although Kali may seem to some a fierce and evil Goddess, she is actually seen as a Mother Goddess in the Hindu religion. In Bengal, she is seen as "the divine Shakti representing both the creative and destructive aspects of nature". And though she is associated with death, the meaning is much deeper. Kali is known to bring the death of the ego. She is said to remove our attachments to our bodies, because they are only temporary. According to Hindu belief, it is the attachment to our bodies that give rise to our ego. Kali, as a Goddess of death and change, helps to liberate us from our ego's, therefore keeping us on our path to spiritual enlightenment.

One of her famous festivals known as Kali Puja, is held on the new day of the Hindu month, which is the seventh month of the Hindu calender, usually ending up in Autumn. So the date for this celebration is different every year. Although Kali is worshiped throughout India and Nepal, she is most popular in Bengal. Here you can find her most famous temple just outside of Calcutta.

To work with this dark mother Goddess, call on her when you are seeking spiritual enlightenment in your own life. Or when your in need of change and need to let go of your ego. On your altar to Kali, have bones, red flowers and candles, jewelry, hibiscus flowers, honey, incense and a picture or statue of her.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Hekate is my matron Goddess, so when I found Hekate Her Sacred Fires by Sorita D'Este, I knew I had to have it! The book itself is quite large, with a beautifully illustrated cover, and pictures throughout. The first part of the book gives you some background on the Goddess Hekate, like her history, stories, herb and crystal associations, offerings and much more. Then the rest of the book consists of personal experiences people have had with the Goddess. These people come from all over the world and they have shared their story of how they discovered Hekate. I found these stories to be very interesting, inspiring and comforting.

The book was fantastic, and all the individual stories really touched me. What I found interesting, is that once you've read a few of them, you start to see a pattern forming. That even though each story is very different, the core feeling and experience is the same. What I also found interesting, is that I too experienced the same feeling when I discovered Hekate. Reading this book has really helped me to understand why Hekate has come into my life, and what her message is for me. Because it is different for everyone.

It was also very comforting to listen to these different people talk about their experiences, because we can relate. And it helps us as individuals to understand and have a stronger relationship with the Goddess. I think this particular style of book is a great idea, and I hope that Sorita D'Este will plan to do another in the future. It is so valuable in all the information it gives. Not just info on the Goddess, but experiences with her, which mean so much more. Experience in this field means the most. You can learn all you want about the Goddess and her history, but until you experience it, you will never truly understand her ways.

At the end of the book, Sorita gives you the Rite of Her Sacred Fires to perform on your own. It is to be performed on the night of a full moon.

For those of you who love Hekate, or just started learning about her, this book is for you. I highly recommend this book for anyone on her path. Sorita has recently developed The Covenant of Hekate, for those who would like to take their relationship with this Goddess to the next level. In order to join you must first perform the rite of Her Sacred Fires, then mail in your info.

Enjoy learning about this wise dark Goddess! Thank you Sorita for another great book!

Sunday, November 7, 2010

The serpent is an ancient symbol of the Goddess, and has been used by many different cultures since the beginning of time. Although in modern times, the snake has been demonized as an evil and deceitful creature. This new view of a once sacred animal was imprinted on us by Christianity in their tale of Adam and Eve. This was not the case for our ancient ancestors. Many cultures including the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Hindus and many more, revered the snake as a symbol of rebirth and fertility.

In Minoan Crete, people worshiped a snake Goddess. Scholars associate this Goddess with that of Ariadne, who is Mistress of the Labyrinth and Goddess of the moon, and stars. A famous figurine found, assumed to be a priestess of this snake Goddess, is shown holding a snake in each arm up to the air in ritual fashion. Whatever magical ceremonies took place based on this figurine, is still somewhat unknown. One things for sure, that these people among many others worshiped the snake as a sacred symbol of rebirth.

There are also many Goddesses who are associated with the symbol of the snake, such as Hekate, Wadjet, Angitia and the ancient Celtic Goddess Corchen. Wadjet is the cobra headed Goddess of lower Egypt. In other parts of Egypt, she was worshiped as a vulture Goddess. She was seen as a Goddess of fertility, and protector of the pharaohs. The Celtic Goddess Corchen, is a very old Goddess, and not much is known about her. All that is really known, is that she was a Goddess of rebirth and fertility, and she was depicted nude with two snakes on either side. Angitia was an Oscan Goddess from east of Rome in the Apennine Mountains. She was a Goddess of snakes and magic and was known for her ability to heal those who had been poisoned by snakes.

The Hindu's form of snake worship comes to us as the Kundalini. This is also known as the sacred feminine energy that lies dormant within each of us. It is said the Kundalini, which was a Hindu Goddess, is a sleeping serpent coiled around the base of the spine. According to Hindu belief, when opening up your chakras, the serpent climbs up, chakra by chakra until she reaches the crown. It is said that then, the person will be awakened to the feminine energy within. Essentially, discovering the Goddess.

From what I've seen in my research, every symbol of the snake is associated with the core symbolism, of feminine energy and the Goddess. From shedding its skin to represent rebirth, to the coiled snake representing the spiral of life, to the feminine energy that lives within each of us, the snake is a very important symbolic creature for our Great Mother.

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Samhain is without a doubt my favorite sabbat/holiday. It is a time when the veil between worlds is thin, and communication with the dead is much easier. It was also celebrated as the Celtic new year and marked the last of the harvest festivals before the cold of winter. In honor of Samhain, great bonfires were held, and people would leave food on their doorsteps or altars for the "wandering dead". They would also light a candle and put it in their window to guide the lost souls on Samhain night. It is said to be a good idea to leave a spot at your dinner table for your dead ancestors on this night as well.

At Samhain we pray to Goddesses such as Hekate, Goddess of letting go and crossroads, and Cerridwen, keeper of the cauldron. Both of these dark Goddesses represent the crone aspect, which is also celebrated at Samhain. As Autumn represents the setting of the season, the crone represents the final setting of our lives. Death is something that as a society, we tend to shy away from today, but that wasn't the case in the days of the ancient pagans. Just as the plants wither and die every winter, so do our own bodies one day. Death was seen as just part of the natural cycles of life. In honoring Hekate and Cerridwen, we honor the darker aspect of ourselves and our life, and come to terms with the fact that one day just like the plants and animals, we too will be returned back to our Great Mother.

Both of these dark Goddesses, represent different aspects of birth, death, rebirth, transformation, and letting go. Hekate is the keeper of the key to wisdom, and guardian of the crossroads. Therefore, she gives us the knowledge to choose our decisions wisely, while shedding our negativity on the way, all the while being reborn. Cerridwen, is the keeper of the cauldron. And in her magic cauldron a potion of transformation is brewing. Call on her to transform your own life, into something you've always wanted. On Samhain, the festival of death, we pray to these Goddesses to let go of that part of us which is dieing. We shed our old skin and get rid of that which no longer serves us.

In honor of my favorite sabbat, I found a great little ritual for letting go on Samhain, and thought I would share it here:

Remember all the things in your life that don't work for you. Now walk around outside somewhere and collect fallen twigs or branches. Each one of these will represent something that you would like to release from your life. In a special place build a sacred Samhain fire, and throw onto it one by one the sticks which represent so much of your hearts desire for change. Really feel these things being let go as you throw them into the fire. Watch the sticks being consumed by Her flames. Open your heart to Her transforming power, trusting Her to show you how to truly let go. When your done, bury the ashes into the earth.

On your altar, have representations of fall, death, and the crone. Have black and orange candles, and pumpkins. You might even want to have a carved pumpkin, with a candle in it , on your altar as well. A cauldron, and a statue of Hekate or Cerridwen, a picture of a witch, an apple or dieing vegetation.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

I love the element of water. The power and rhythm of the ocean is something that always puts me into a trance. Watching her powerful waves smash against the sand, then pulling them back into her depths. Very trance inducing! So while I was reading my 2011 Magical Almanac, and came across some water spells, I decided to share them here.

*The first one is a spell of purification with rain water:

Refreshing rain spellThis simple spell is good to refresh yourself after a long day or just for purification. For this spell you will need: blue glass bowl, your wand, and some rainwater. Pour the rainwater into the blue bowl. Gently tap the side of the bowl with your wand, then put the tip of the wand into the water and stir. Chant:

Water clean and water bright.Make my spirit feel all right.

Set down the wand. Rinse your hands in the water, lifting it and letting it trickle back into the bowl; pat your face with your wet hands. As you listen to the trickling water and feel it on your skin, concentrate on washing away the negative energy and drawing fresh power from the element of water. Finish by pouring any leftover water outside onto the ground.

*The second one is a spell of protection for your home:

White water warding spellFor this spell, you will need to gather a bottle of water from a fast running creek or river in your area. Put the water in a white bowl or vase. If you live in a house you'll be walking around the outside of your yard or house; if you live in an apartment you'll be walking around the inside of your room. As you walk, sprinkle the water and chant:

Swift, white water running free,Keep all harm away from me.If harm tries to pass by thee,Wash it down into the sea.

Visualize a river rushing and roaring around the boundary of your home. Imagine that any negative energy or unwelcome entities get swept away from you.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Andraste also known as Andrasta, was a warrior Goddess of ancient Britain. It is said that she was the patron deity of the Iceni tribe, which was lead by Queen Boudicca. She was seen as a Goddess of victory, ravens and battles, and is very similar to the Irish warrior Goddess, Morrighan. Her name was thought to mean "The invincible one" or "She who has not fallen". She was called upon at the eve of battle, for her warrior strength and guidance. She was worshiped in woodland groves throughout Britain, and there is said to be a sacred grove dedicated to her somewhere in the Epping Forest. Her symbol was a hare, and in old Britain people were against hunting hares, for fear that killing one might afflict the hunter with cowardice.

Andraste was invoked by Queen Boudicca while fighting against the Roman invasion of Britain. According to Dio Cassius, these were her words:

"I thank thee, Andraste, and call upon thee as woman speaking to woman... those over whom I rule are Britons, men that know not how to till the soil or ply a trade, but are thoroughly versed in the art of war and hold all things in common, even children and wives, so that the latter possess the same valour as the men. As the queen, then, of such men and of such women, I supplicate and pray thee for victory, preservation of life, and liberty against men insolent, unjust, insatiable, impious."

Queen Boudicca and her army fought the Romans so well, that the Emperor Nero almost decided to withdraw Roman forces from Britain. It is said that Queen Boudicca released a hare to the Romans as an act of appeasement. In The White Goddess by Robert Graves, he speculates that Queen Boudicca may have released the hare in hopes that the Romans would kill it and loose their courage.

Many of the warrior queens people believed that she was a priestess of Andraste or the Goddess incarnate. Her strength and courage as a warrior queen is inspiring , honorable and very impressive, as she almost beat the Romans! To honor Andraste, call on her when you need the strength of the warrior Goddess in your life. When your fighting a battle of your own. On your altar to Andraste, have a red candle with red or black stones such as garnet or black tourmaline, representation of a hare, and incense made with dragon's blood.

Enjoy working with this fierce warrior Goddess! For more info on Andraste, check out TheWhiteGoddess.co.uk

Sunday, October 10, 2010

This might sound odd to some people, but I love house cleaning. And if I can add a little magic to it, even better! So when I found the book Magical Housekeeping by Tess Whitehurst, I was very excited! Not only does her book give you ideas for house cleaning, it also helps you to get rid of any clutter inside your house, and your mind. Her approach to the subject is holistic in that it clears your house and your mind of any unnecessary baggage or things you've been hanging on to and cant seem to let go of.

The book starts off with some basic cleaning techniques and how to get rid of clutter in your home. It's a process of going through those dreaded closets or cabinets, any place we store things that we will "get to later". She goes on to say that anything you haven't used, touched or maybe even forgot you had should be thrown out. Even it your hanging on to something because it was a gift given to you by a family member, if you really aren't planning on using it, get rid of it. Tess says that clutter in your house reflects the clutter in our minds and in order to "declutter" ourselves we must first "declutter" our homes. She actually gives lists of categories of clutter, from things that may have negative associations to any old paperwork, books, clothes, etc.

After clearing the clutter in our homes, it's now time to clear the clutter in our minds. In this section she gives us ideas to cleanse ourselves, and get rid of that extra baggage with techniques of forgiveness, clearing toxins from our bodies, and getting over old grudges and hurts. This can sometimes be an emotional process, but it's an important process to keep us moving forward in our lives in a healthy and clutter free way.

Now comes my favorite part, the actual cleaning of your house! For this Tess gives wonderful recipes for floor washes, room clearing techniques, mantras and affirmations, and learning how to call on different deities to keep your house feeling refreshed and renewed. She also explains the importance of getting rid of stagnant energy in your home by clapping your hands together in places where you feel this may be. With a little influence of Feng Shui, Tess says that stagnant energy in a home can stop the natural flow from room to room, creating a certain feeling of negativity in a particular place in your house. Clapping your hands together, burning sage or using any one of the other cleansing techniques she offers should do the trick.

She even goes on to talk about the animals inside and outside of our homes and the significance they have. That spider in the corner may actually be looked at as a friend instead of a scary pest! This book is so chock full of great ideas, I couldn't even begin to go over all of them here. That is why I recommend you go out and buy yourself a copy of Magical Housekeeping by Tess Whitehurst. I know I will use this book for a very long time, as the process of "decluttering" is something we all should do from time to time, to make sure our homes and our minds are free and clear of any negativities. I highly recommend this book! Enjoy your housecleaning!

Friday, October 8, 2010

Thank you to everyone who participated in this giveaway! And the winner is....Aishtamid!! Congratulations! I hope everyone had fun playing. I would like to thank Lori over at Witchcrafts for donating her magical Samhain Oil. I know I plan to do some shopping at her store myself very soon as well! Thanks again! Stay tuned for our next giveaway.

Thursday, September 30, 2010

This month, we are having our giveaway in honor of Samhain. To celebrate this darkening point of the year, Lori the owner of Witchcrafts, has donated one of her Dark Harvest Samhain ritual oils, to be our giveaway item! I had the chance to speak with Lori, here's what she had to say:1. How long have you been crafting magical products?Since about 2006 (for my own use primarily), and on Etsy since 2009.2. How did you go about starting your business?I created a shoppe banner, made a few magical items, and just did it. My shoppe is more like a hobby than a full-fledged business (in terms of making a living from my craftwork), although I'd really like to develop my shoppe as a small business. I love Witchcraft. I love craftwork. This is why I do it. I'm following my Bliss. I'd never want WITCHCRAFTS to turn into something mechanical and magicless. If it did, I'd have to close down or scale down because I'm not willing to sacrifice my joy and my bliss. I'd rather have a day job and continue doing this as a hobby instead.3. What is your favorite product that you make?My favorite products are my silk sari witches' ladders and new magical soy candle lines. I'm officially a chandler now - a dream of mine come true. My handmade hand poured candles are all made with premium certified kosher American-farmer grown soy wax. They are also very magically focused, potent and chock full of mystically enchanting goodies - for example, my Hekate Liminal Rites candle contains genuine wolfsbane, yew, mandrake-mandragora and many other botanicals sacred to Hekate - there is no skimping on the magical ingredients in any of them. My customers have written to me "the energy you imbibe is palpable," and "I have always wanted to honor the Fae, but have never found anything that felt 'right' [until coming across my Bendith y Sidhe magical pillar]. This too, is why I created my shoppe and offer the products I do - to share my love of the Craft and to hopefully touch the Bliss of other witches, pagans and occultists.4. Can you tell us a little about the product your giving away?Dark Harvest Samhain ritual oil grew out of my study of and pathworking with entheobotanicals. This blend contains wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) which, to produce chemically psychoactive effects, is usually ritually smoked or prepared as a liqueur. Wormwood is used in this Samhain ritual oil for it's magical effects (calling spirits, for example), which are closely related to it's psychoactive effects. This entheobotanical combined with the other dark ingredients led me to magically name this ritual oil DARK HARVEST.

Rules to enter the giveaway are as follows: Go to Witchcrafts, find a product (or products) that you like and comment on it here. The giveaway will last for one week, and then the winner will be announced. I will choose the winner randomly at random.org. Please make sure and add contact info as well to your entry in the giveaway.

I would like to thank Lori at Witchcrafts for donating her beautiful Samhain ritual oil! I am so excited to showcase her magically unique products here! Thank you to everyone who enters! Have fun playing!

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Today we celebrate Mabon, the second of the three harvest festivals. This is a time where night and day are equal in length, from here on out the days will grow short, and the nights will grow long. In the ancient world, this was the time of year when people were preparing for the coming winter. Harvesting their fields and stocking up food and wood to ensure they would survive the long cold nights. It was also a time to give thanks to mother earth for her great bounty.

Many cultures celebrated a harvest festival. The Greeks celebrated Oschophoria which was a festival held for harvesting grapes for wine. In China they celebrate the Autumn moon with cakes baked with flour from harvested rice. Also in some of the Germanic countries, offerings of flour were made to Odin in hopes that he would protect their crops. It seems that most of the world celebrated the time of the harvest in some fashion.

On Mabon we honor the Goddess Demeter, Goddess of grain. Her famous myth deals with her daughter Persephone and her seasonal trip to the underworld. Now is the time when Demeter is mourning the loss of her daughter, and because of this all of the plants wither and die. When Persephone is returned back to her mother at spring, life begins a new and Demeter is happy once more.

Now is the time to turn inward and reflect on the darker side of ourselves. To walk the labyrinth of life and find balance in this time of self reflection. Take some time to shed some of the negative things that hold you down, this will make room for more positive things to move in. In all of life and nature, there cannot be light without the dark, and their cannot be dark without the light. It is the great balance that we all strive for.

On your altar, have symbols of fall and the harvest, such as little pumpkins, acorns, or fall leaves. Candle colors can be red, orange or yellow or a combination of all three. Have warm colored stones and burn Mabon incense. To represent the Goddess Persephone you might want to have a pomegranate, the fateful fruit that has kept her bound to the underworld for half the year. For Demeter I suggest grains of any kind.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

For many of us witches, discovering and working with our animal totems is a very important part of our magical lives. We all have them, but some of us might not know what they are yet. As followers of the Goddess we need to be connected to nature to truly feel her special power. Connecting with animals is a great way to do that! There are many different ways of finding out what your animal totem is. I found mine in a dream years ago, when I simply asked the Goddess before I fell asleep to "show me my animal totem". The dream I proceeded to have will forever be etched in my mind, and so will the beauty of the black leopard.

While reading my 2011 Magical Almanac, I came across a great ritual for finding your animal totem, and I thought I would share it here!

On your altar have the elements represented, as well as the colors of nature such as green and brown, and a white candle to represent your higher self. On your candle, carve either your name or astrological sign, and dress it with sandalwood oil. Make sure you cleanse yourself and your space with a smudge stick, and make your sacred circle. Now that you are ready to start, you may call on the elements, any deities you like to work with, and your higher self. Recite your statement of purpose:

On this night, I seek a meeting or communion with my true Animal totem. I enter this circle with pure heart, mind, body, and soul. I ask for your assistance and guidance. Please bestow your wisdom and guidance upon me, so that I can be true to myself and to others and pay homage to the earth and all it's creatures. Hail to the elements who keep the balance. Hail to my higher self who watches over me! Hail to (name of deity you chose) who assists me in my communication with my totem! So mote it be!

Now it's time for the meditation:

Focus on imagery regarding a pathway through nature of whatever kind suits you or feels right. Notice any creatures that come forward. Concentrate on just being, dont think too much or ask too many questions. Don't disregard any creature just because you'd prefer a different one. Take note of what happens, what creature (or creatures) you see, colors, shapes, textures and sensations. What memories are being evoked? Whatever creature reveals itself to you, commune with it. Observe it, what it's doing, if it's saying anything to you, or gesturing in a particular manner. Now thank the animal for it's presence and ask that they guide you in your life and dreams. Now thank any deities, the elements and your higher self and close your circle. Write down your experience and all details.

Once you find out what your animal totem is, you can call upon it or them when doing magical workings, or just to guide you through life. Sometimes a particular animal will show up at a certain time in your life, because it's trying to tell you something, or teach you a lesson.

I hope you enjoy working with your animal totems! There are many great books on this subject if you would like to research it further. I happen to like Ted Andrews Animal Speak

Friday, September 17, 2010

Thank you to everyone who participated in this giveaway! And the winner is......Lindsey Rey! Congratulations! I hope everyone enjoyed this giveaway. I know I will be doing some shopping from Montserrat very soon, so I can enjoy her beautiful pocket shrines as well. Enjoy your Sisterhood pocket shrine Lindsey! I would also like to thank Montserrat for donating her unique product for this giveaway! Check back soon for our October giveaway. Thanks!

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

This week our giveaway comes to us from The Sacred Feminine. Fabulous artist and candle maker, Montserrat of The Sacred Feminine , has donated one of her lovely pocket shrines for this giveaway. I fell in love with these little shrines the first time I laid eyes on them, and I'm sure you will too! I had the chance to speak with Montserrat about her beautiful artwork, here's what she had to say:

1. How long have you been an artist of the sacred feminine?I have always been an artist, but it was at the age of 33, when I had a brush with death that the Sacred Feminine was awakened within me.

2.How did you go about starting your business?My business started in 1996 officially as Candles by Montserrat, my candle line.I never thought of owning my own business, since I was painting just for the fun of it, but one day I decided to make some candles to give as gifts to friends, and they loved them so much that they encouraged me start a business out of it. So, I started selling them at a local New Age Store and somehow they spread all over. Since I use my own artwork for the labels, it made sense to also sell greeting cards and the like. Today, I make many things with my art work.

3.What is your favorite piece of artwork/product that you make?I love painting with oils, of course. That seems to be the best way in which I can express my feelings with the rest of the world. My favorite piece is Mother Earth.4. Could you explain the item your giving away?I am giving away one of my pocket shrines. I love creating sacred space everywhere, and these little pocket shrines are perfect for doing just that, and also for focusing your intention on anything. They are easy to carry in your pocket, purse, car, office and home altar.

To enter the giveaway, you must first go to The Sacred Feminine website and check out her products, then come back here and mention a product or two that you like. The giveaway will go on for one week, and when its over I will choose the winner randomly with random.org. Thank you to everyone for participating in this giveaway! And of course a big thank you to Montserrat for donating this beautiful little pocket shrine!

Saturday, September 4, 2010

I was so excited when I found the book by Jean Markale, The Great Goddess! It looked like the kind of book I had been searching for. This book deals with Goddess worship from the Paleolithic to the present. It's filled with so much information on Goddess history, that I recommend taking notes if you really want the info to stick. Now I must say that I did enjoy reading this book, although it can be a little dry in some areas, so it's a book you'll read over time. It's mainly academic with a little mythology.

Worship of a Mother Goddess dates back thousands of years. Figurines of women have been found with exaggerated breasts and hips that are believed to symbolize fertility. Jean Markale discusses each and every one of these ancient figurines. Everything from the famous Venus of Wilendorf to the Sheela Na Gigs of Great Britain. There is even a reference in the back of the book that names all Goddess centered figurines, sanctuaries and statues.

The beginning of this book gives you a history on the ancient practice of Goddess worship, starting with the Paleolithic peoples. It goes on from there to talk about Christianity, and the change of the world religion from a Mother Goddess nature centered spirituality, to a patriarchal spirituality. The last few chapters of this book talks about different Goddess/Pagan religions around the world, like the Celts, Egyptians, Hindu and so on. I have to say, that the middle portion of this book goes a little too deep into detail about when Christianity came about. Although it's a relevant time period in our history, I was looking more for just info on Goddess history.

The Great Goddess is filled with historical fact and is very academic, which I happen to like. There are no rituals or meditations to try or anything like that. Strictly historical fact on ancient Goddess worship. Which I think is very important for modern Goddess followers to know. But if your looking for an easy, fun, activity filled read, this isnt it. Take your time with this one and soak it all in! Theres tons of Goddess history out there waiting to come to the surface, and I think Jean Markale did a superb job conveying that ancient message to us.

Check out The Great Goddess on amazon. Enjoy learning about our history with the Mother Goddess!

Saturday, August 28, 2010

I recently read the book, The Witch in Every Woman by Laurie Cabot, and it was filled with lots of great information. There was info on different Celtic Goddesses, and little rituals and meditations to try. The part of the book about the Goddess Brigid had a great meditation to do to honor her and feel her sacred flame within yourself. It involved empowering a stone with her energy, and carrying this "Brigid" stone with you. I thought I would share it with you here so we can all have a Brigid stone!

For this meditation, you will need enough black, white and red candles to make a circle around you while you are seated on the floor. You will also need a red stone, in the book she suggests either garnet or ruby. I used red jasper because that was the only red stone I had on hand. The candle circle represents the Goddess Brigid and her stone, her psychic flame. Get comfortable seated in your circle. Light the candles and hold the red stone against your solar plexus. Envision the flame in the center of the stone transferring inside your body. Feel its heat. Say aloud:

This is my psychic flame within,This will spur the fire of my psychic abilities,I carry this stone as a symbol of your strength within me,I am the keeper of the flame,Every time I relight a candle, I rekindle my psychic ability,I know my psychic sense guides me, protects me, heals me, and showers me with love and self esteem,I always use my psychic ability for the good of all people,As a witch, I never do harm or return harm,I neutralize and bind all evil thoughts, actions and deeds,And let the outcome be the force of the Great Goddess Brigid.

Carry the stone close to you, in your pocket or purse. Hold it and handle it to feel the strength of your psychic sense.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Hekateis the Greek Goddess of the crossroads, the torch bearer and the holder of the key. She is the Goddess of the darkness, who guides Persephone on her way to the underworld every year. She is a Goddess of magic and sorcery and a consort to witches. Daughter to Perses and Asteria, Hekate is often seen as a crone, and with three faces to represent the three fold Goddess. She is also said to have assisted with childbirth, and her symbols are the serpent, dogs, the key, and the torch.

Often a misunderstood Goddess, because of her great power, she has been demonized as an evil sorceress. Many cultures have deemed wise and powerful women as evil, because they are afraid of their power. Dont be afraid to work with this Goddess. She has been very helpful in my life, and she is at this point, my main Goddess. She may be firm, but that doesn't make her evil. She is full of wisdom and knowledge, and she is an ancient Goddess. There is some speculation, that she was actually an Anatolian Goddess, that was later adopted by the Greeks. Which would make her much older by a few thousand years.

Her ancient days of worship for the Greeks were August 13 and November 30. Although the Romans observed the 29th of every month as her sacred day. You can call on her when you are at a crossroads in your own life, and are not sure which path to take. She will light her great torch, and light your way.

For a quick little ritual and honoring of Hekate, a good time to pray to her is on the waning or dark moon. Have on your altar, a black candle dressed with lavender oil, make an incense with her sacred herbs, resins and oils. And recite the hymn to Hekate by Orpheus.

Friday, August 20, 2010

Thank you to everyone who participated in this giveaway! Now, the winner is....Altered Beauty!!Congratulations! I hope everyone had a good time playing! I would like to thank Kat from EmKat creations for donating her lovely spell kit. Be sure to check out her other great products as well!I plan on having more giveaways in the future so check back soon.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

This week Love of the Goddess is having our first ever giveaway! Thanks to Kat over at EmKat Creations, she will be giving away a custom Goddess spell kit with all the fixins. I had the chance to speak with Kat a little about her business, and wanted to share her story here:

1. How long have you been reading tarot and doing other magical things?I've been reading tarot on purpose for about 10 years now. I started in college while organizing an on-campus Pagan Club and have been enjoying the heck out of it every since. I've ended up having a Tarot Deck problem very similar to my shoe problem, I have around 20 decks currently and I've given away over 15. The other magical things is very hard to pinpoint. I'm sure many have the same experiences growing up; I used to make 'magic potions' in the mud with what ever plants were lying around. I've always had a relationship with deity, even back when I was learning the basics of being a Roman Catholic. I've always felt called to service of the goddess and thankfully I was raised by two very faith-filled parents who always believed in me and taught me that a relationship with the divine is far more important that which religion it's through.

2. How did you go about starting your business?

Really I've only just begun. I'm at the stage where as long as I don't loose money I'm satisfied. I've had ideas in my head for a variety of spell kits and components that I believe people would find useful and have only recently had the stability to sit down, make, and sell them. So far I'm working through a couple auction sites as well as etsy and learning my way around the witchy blog-sphere.

3. What is your favorite product that you offer?

Honestly any custom work. I love getting a feel for what the client needs in their spell work as well as what type of magic they're comfortable with, but the best part is the research. I love wandering through my books and my notes searching for the best fit for their needs. Looking up and cross referencing all the correspondences (color, day, moon phase, time, herbs, stones) and then working them all together is the best part of what I'm selling. Many of the products in my shop started out as custom requests that I felt worked well as an item for others.

4. Could you explain the item you are giving away?

The winner of this giveaway will receive a custom Goddess spell kit made for the Goddess of their choice. The kit includes:

Approximately 2tbs of an herbal custom spell mix

A four inch 'chime' candle in an appropriate color

A mini-spell bottle in an appropriate color

Semi-Precious gem stone or gem stone chips

A mini spell to invoke the attributes of the Goddess

For this giveaway we ask that only US and Canadian residents enter, thank you! To enter the giveaway, you must first go to Kats etsy shop and check out her magical products, then come back here and mention a product or two that you like, and also name the goddess of your choice for the spell kit. The giveaway will go on for one week, and when its over I will choose the winner randomly with random.org. Thank you to everyone for participating in this giveaway! And of course a big thank you to Kat for donating this wonderful little spell kit!

Saturday, August 7, 2010

A talisman can be used for many different reasons. Whether to protect the wearer from harm, or to emit a certain energy for that person, they can be very useful for the witch. You can either make your own if you are inclined to do so, or you can buy an already made one and empower it with whatever energy you like. I found a great little charging ritual in the book : The Witches Craft by Raven Grimassi, and I thought I would share it here.

First you must decide what it is you are trying to achieve, whether it be protection, a feeling of peacefulness or confidence, whichever you may choose. Then you must find your talisman, this can be a simple stone necklace, a pentacle, or a handmade talisman if you are inclined to do so. Really it can be whatever draws you to it. Now that you have your intent and your item for housing that intent, you may begin your charging ritual.

Decided the size of the aura that will surround the talisman (such as an area of three feet, ten feet or whatever is appropriate). It is within this distance that the talisman will have influence through the magical energy it emanates. When you are ready to proceed with the magical charge, set up your altar with two candles and lay the talisman directly in front of you where you can gaze upon it easily. You may light some incense and have out some crystals as well if you wish. Now enter a merged state and fill your mind with the feeling or attitude you wish to implant into the object. Then direct the feeling into the object and see it being implanted into the object. You can do this by physically touching the talisman or just visualize your energy going into it, whatever way feels more comfortable to you. Visualize the field of influence it is to have. Clap your hands sharply together and leave the work area until your mind returns to normal.

Now you have your magically charged talisman! Wear it when you need that energy to work for you. Enjoy!

Saturday, July 31, 2010

Lammas, also known as Lughnasadh, is the first of the three harvest festivals of the year. It is the time of great bounty when people would start preparing their stock for the coming winter. Being a festival to honor grain and the harvest, it was traditional to bake bread on Lammas. People would only harvest their grain on the day of Lammas and not a day before. This was because if the crops were left in the fields for too long, or the bread not baked in time, the people could starve.

On Lammas, we honor many different Goddesses , such as Ker the grain Goddess, Madron the mother Goddess, and Demeter Goddess of the harvest. Ker was prayed to while ancient women would bake bread on the day of Lammas. Since she is a grain Goddess, they would ask for her to bless their grain so that it would last through the coming months of winter. Madron is the bountiful mother Goddess who gives birth to all the crops. It is said that Madron was worshiped by Neolithic peoples in the British Isles. They would honor her by building sacred mounds on the earth, these were said to represent the womb of the pregnant mother Goddess.

To celebrate Lammas, honor the harvest and mother Goddesses. Pray for their bounty in your own life. On your altar have either a red, orange or yellow candle, or a combination of all three to represent the colors of fall. If possible, have some grain or corn to represent the harvest. A green crystal would represent the fertility of the earth. You could also bake some bread or make a corn dollie. I found pretty simple instructions for making a corn dollie here : SnowOwl

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Sheela na gigs, are carvings of naked women exposing their vulva. These have been found mainly in the British Isles. Oddly enough, many of these old representations of Goddess are found on churches, and some castles. There are many theories surrounding the meaning behind the sheela na gig, and the most popular is that she is a survivor of an ancient pagan Goddess. Usually, the sheela has been identified with the Celtic Goddess Callieach. This Goddess is known to be a "hag" like figure of Irish mythology.

The myth of the sheela says, that she appeared as a lustful hag, and most men refused her advances, except one. After this man slept with her, she turned into a beautiful maiden, and granted the man with royalty and blessed his reign.

Before I went to Ireland, I complied a list of sheela na gigs in the places we were going to be visiting. Not knowing how hard or easy it would be to find them, I kept my hopes up. The first place I found one, was at the Hill of Tara. When you arrive at the Hill of Tara, you have to pass through a small cemetery and old church before reaching the actual mounds of Tara. After we checked out the mounds, we walked back through the cemetery where I noticed a single standing stone. As I looked at it, I realized that there was a slightly faded carving at the bottom right corner. As I looked closer, it revealed itself to me, I had found my first sheela na gig! Very exciting indeed! The other two sheela's I found on our trip, were at the Rock of Cashel in the museum, and at the Clonmacnoise monastic site.

If you set out to find them, you will, just keep looking and dont give up! It's very reassuring that these little figures of an ancient Goddess still adorn the walls of churches and castles throughout the British Isles.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Today in ancient Egypt, the birthday of the Goddess Isis was celebrated. Also known as "Night of the cradle", this particular festival to Isis was seen as sort of a midsummer festival. The day after the birthday of Isis, a feast was held in honor of Osiris, because he was connected with the annual rising of the Nile river, which gave life to Egypt once again.

Isis was known as a mother Goddess, in Egyptian scriptures it is said "In the beginning there was Isis". She was seen as the oldest of the old, the Goddess from which our world arose. She was wife and sister to the God Osiris, mother to Horus, and sister to Nephthys. She was depicted with wide outstretched wings, and a sun disc crown on her head. In a hieroglyphic hymn to Isis, she was described as, "She who made light with her feathers and wind with her wings".

She had many festivals dedicated to her throughout the year, although perhaps the biggest festival was known as "The mysteries of Isis and Osiris". This was celebrated during the months of fall, and represented the death and rebirth of her brother husband Osiris. Another big festival which was held in March, was known as "Isidis Navigatum". This was a blessing of the fleets, and in the ritual, they would send a crew less boat out to sea filled with spices and herbs as an offering to the Goddess.

Isis was a widely worshiped Goddess, not only prayed to in Egypt, but all over ancient Europe. She was loved by many, it is said mainly because she was seen as one with the people. The people of the ancient world easily connected to the Goddess because she could relate to them. Her temples have been found in Rome, Greece and Pompeii among other places.

To honor Isis on the day of her birth, here is a quick altar set up: amethyst crystal, silver or white candle, myrrh or musk incense, and a wand. Recite this poem:

Because of Isis, there is a heaven,Because of Isis, there is an earth,Because of Isis, winds blow on the desert,Because of Isis, the sweet sun shines,Because of Isis, the river floods in spring,Because of Isis, plants bear fruits,Because of Isis, we live and grow strong,Because of Isis, we have breath to give thanks.

Sunday, July 11, 2010

The spiral is an ancient symbol that has been used since the beginning of time in many different cultures around the world. Different variations of the spiral, have been found in the British Isles, Europe, Scandinavia, Greece and even in the America's. The meaning of this ancient symbol has been up for debate, and while each definition is a little different, the core meaning of this symbol remains the same. Basically representing the spiral of life, the cycles of nature, the cycles of life, and so on.

The triple spiral pictured here, was found carved on the stones of Newgrange, a neolithic passage tomb in Ireland. This particular spiral is said to represent the threefold Goddess and the cycles of life. Another similar triple spiral called the triskele, was used in Europe as well as in the America's by the Hopi Indians. This spiral represents the cycles of life within the three fold, or the three spheres of the material world, such as land, sky and sea.

While in Ireland, I got the pleasure of seeing these beautiful triple spirals carved on the walls of Newgrange. At the entrance to this massive passage tomb, lie three huge smoothed rocks, each of these have triple spirals carved all over them. Some of these carvings are starting to fade sadly. Inside the tomb, they are carved randomly throughout, there are not as many inside as there are on the rocks out front. I also saw some spirals carved in a few other ancient places throughout Ireland.

What I find most interesting about this sacred symbol, is that many different cultures around the world used it. How did all of these ancient cultures use a very similar symbol with almost the same meaning? Could it be possible that the Hopi Indians in North American came into contact with the neolitic Europeans? I would tend to think not, but anything is ultimately possible. I guess we will leave that up to the archaeologists and anthropologists among us to figure out.

For more information about the ancient symbol of the spiral, check out : Zenzibar.com

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

The pentagram, often misunderstood, is an ancient symbol of protection. Part of being a witch and practicing magic, involves protecting yourself. It will help keep away negative energy from you and your home. I have this great book titled : The Witches Craft by Raven Grimassi, and there is a little pentagram protection spell, to protect your home in it that I thought I would share.To prepare a home protection pentagram, begin in the night of the full moon, place the pentagram on your altar along with a cup of water. Light a small white candle*, now suspend your pentagram over the candle* with a chain. Take your athame or wand, and trace the star pattern, then trace the circle. Next, dip the pentagram into the cup of water, then hold the amulet in your left hand, and with the tip of the athame point at the center of the pentagram say:I call upon the source of all power to empower thispentagram asa protection against allthat is evil, negative or unbalanced.

Again suspend the pentagram over the flame and say:I call upon the guardians of the north, east, south and west, to empower this pentagram, lending your force againstall thatis evil, negative or unbalanced.

Dip the pentagram in the cup of water again, and then lay it upon the altar. Complete the charge by placing the tip of the athame on the center of the pentagram and say:

I bind here, by all of these powers and forces, this unyieldingpentagram of protection, that in the presence of this pentagram, no evil thing may approach or enter in.

No you may hang your pentagram over the door to your house, or bedroom, or wherever you see fit. Check out the rest of this book for other spells and ideas.

*In the book, instead of a small white candle it calls for a metal cup with flammable liquid, thought I should mention that, but I dont necessarily agree with it, so I changed it to fit my needs.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Hekate is part of the pantheon of Goddesses I pray to. She also happens to be one of my favorites! I started working with this wise and ancient Goddess not all that long ago, and I quickly fell in love with her energy. Hekate is often a misunderstood Goddess because she is a dark Goddess. So I decided to learn everything I could about this Goddess to better understand her darkness.

I found this book titled : Hekate, Keys to the Crossroads by Sorita D'Este, and I really enjoyed reading it! The first part of this book gives you a little background on the Goddess, and then the rest of the book, is actually stories of real people who are priests and priestesses of Hekate. The stories are basically about each persons journey to find Hekate, and how they found her. They then go on to talk about their relationship with the Goddess, and you'll notice that each person has a different relationship with her. Some of these authors even give you small rituals to Hekate, that they have performed themselves. I really liked this style of book, because you can see how real people interact with the Goddess, and also how they worship her. This can help you with your own rituals and interaction with her.

There are poems, pictures and recipes in this book as well. It's a great read with alot of information and I highly recommend it. She also has a few other books which I plan to read, about Artemis and Morrigan. Check out this book and learn about the great Goddess of the crossroads!

Monday, June 21, 2010

Today marks the first day of summer and the longest day of the year. Also known as Midsummer or the Summer Solstice, from now until the autumn equinox the days will be getting shorter. Litha is a celebration of the great solar diety's , the ocean and the growing crops. This is the time of year where we swim in her oceans and bathe in her warm sunlight. Where her flowers are in bloom, and her animals are pregnant with life.

At Midsummer, we call on Aphrodite Goddess of love, or Domnu Goddess of the sea. Aphrodite, the Greek Goddess of love, brings you the passion and warmth of the sun. Many Goddesses of love are prayed to at this time of year, to help bring fertility to crops, people and animals. Call on her for passion in your own life, or ask for her passion to be given to your plants for growth.

Domnu, Goddess of the sea, represents the great flowing of our emotions, and teaches us to open up to our emotions, so they flow freely. Her name means "Abyss of the Sea", and she is a Celtic Goddess. She teaches us to be true to ourselves and to not be afraid to express what we feel. She is also known as The Lady of the Lake and Lady of the Holy springs and wells. Her animals are the whales, dolphins and salmons of the sea.

On your altar at Litha, you'll want to have different representations of the sun. Think of colors like yellow, orange and red. For example, you could have an orange candle, with yellow and red stones like citrine and red jasper. You could also go to the ocean and gather some salt water for your altar to represent the flowing ocean. Sea shells are also good for this sabbat as well.

Try at some point during Midsummer, to go outside and feel the warmth of the sun, if you can try to have your ritual outside. Enjoy your Summer Solstice celebration!

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Located off the coast of Italy, this little Mediterranean island was once home to an ancient Goddess worshiping culture. The island was inhabited in approximately 5200 BC, by a highly developed neolithic people. The great temples of Malta, are some of the oldest free standing structures known, and are part of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. The temples themselves date to about 3000 BC.

There have been remains of about 50 temples on the island of Malta. In these temples, artifacts of pottery, bones, figurines of women and signs of fire have been discovered. At some point, it is said that red ochre covered some of the walls in these temples. You can imagine, in the ancient time in which these temples were used for ritual, how beautiful it must have looked. Red walls with lit candles, Goddess sculptures and statues fill the rooms, small altars with offerings, and priestesses dressed in white flowing dresses worshiping her great presence. The most famous of these temples is the Ggantija temple, with its curved walls in the shape of a woman. Very obviously a representation of a great mother Goddess.

The well known "Sleeping Goddess of Malta" figure, was found in the temple Hal Saflien. It is also said, that at the Mnajdra temple complex, some of the stones are aligned with the sunrise on the winter and summer solstices , and also the spring and autumn equinoxes.

The culture in Malta was matriarchal, and lived very peacefully for many years. At some point around 2300 BC, the temples were mysteriously abandoned. Later, in around 2000 BC the island was inhabited by a bronze age culture.

The ancient peoples and temples of Malta fascinate me. Thanks to archaeologists like Marija Gimbutas, we have had the opportunity to learn about our ancient Goddess worshiping ancestors.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Today starts the month of the Oak tree on the Celtic calendar. It goes from June 10 - July 7. This is a great time for magic concerning protection, strength and success.

The Oak was one of the three sacred trees to the Druids. Although it was actually their primary sacred tree, the others were Ash and Thorn. The sacred Oak is one of the longest living trees, and can also grow up to 150 ft tall. It symbolized the turning of the year and was considered to be the king of the forest. Many cultures worshiped the Oak, but the Celts held it with a very high degree of reverence.

During this time of year, it is said that the Druids would carve a circle into the tree for protection against lightning. They used the sacred tree for medicinal purposes and divinatory purposes as well. Ancient Celtic priestess's were said to listen to the rustling of the Oak leaves to receive divine messages.

When my fiance and I visited Ireland, we got to explore the ancient Oak forest at Charleville Castle. This forest surrounds the castle on all sides. Walking among these huge sacred trees was a great experience. You could really feel the ancient energy these trees carried. The forest was quite except for a few birds chirping and some leaves rustling in the wind. Very haunting and mysterious place this was. While there, I pondered the thought, that maybe one day long ago, the ancient Druids walked these forests as well.

Celebrate the sacred Oak tree at Midsummer, if possible try to visit an Oak tree and connect with it's ancient energy.

I am the beauty of the Earth, the green of growing things. I am the white Moon whose light is full among the stars and soft upon the Earth. From Me all things are born, to Me all things, in their seasons return. Let My worship be in your hearts, for all acts of love and pleasure are My rituals.